Mr Jimmy

Mr. Rose’s Dream

Lady Mary, seven brothers, and many suitors. Rejected all, until she met Mr Rose.
No one knew who he was, nor where he came from. He told her about the house where they wouldlive, but never took her there.

She wanted to know. Day before the wedding, rode through the forest to find it.Came to a wall, above the gate was written: Be bold, be bold.She was bold – went throughthe gate.Came to the house, above the door: Be bold, be bold. But not too bold.
But she was bold – went in.
Staircase – went up.
Small door: Be bold, be bold. But not too bold – lest that yourheart's blood should run cold.But she was bold – opened the door.

Hanging from hooks on the wall, row upon row, bodies of young women, white wedding-clothes stained red by their own blood.Screamed,ran down stairs.Saw through window, Mr. Rose coming, dragging yet another woman, her white wedding-clothes stained red with her own blood.

Lady Mary hid as Mr. Rose dragged woman to stairs.Youngwoman with last strength put out her hand (a hand with a ring) to hold onto banisters.He saw the diamond ring. Drew sword, cut off hand.Hand flew through air, landed on Lady Mary's lap.He couldn't findhand, dragged body upstairs to bloody chamber.

Next day, wedding feast. "My dear, you seem so pale."Bad dream."Oh, dreams are always the opposite. But tell me your dream."I dreamt I rode to look foryour house – wall – gate – Be bold, be bold.Mr. Rose: "It is not so, nor it was not so."I dreamt I saw a door – Be bold, be bold. But not too bold."It is not so, nor it was not so."

I dreamt I sawa small door – Be bold, be bold. But not too bold – lest that your heart's blood should run cold."It is not so, nor it was not so."I dreamt I saw bodies."It is not so, nor it was not so. And Godforbid that it should be so."I dreamt I saw you – dragging another young woman."It is not so, nor it was not so. And God forbid that it should be so."I dreamt I saw her hand with a diamond ring."It is...